Couldn't you just run in GTL? That is what Mike Dusold runs in with his Camaro.
Regarding tips, I don't know...I know I like to get there early enough on Friday to get my stickers and get all of that done so I can get into tech early Sat morning to get that out of the way. Be ready to run your car...a LOT... They'll split the groups up even numbered cars and odd numbers, evens start on the autox Sat morn while odds run the speed stop, after the lunch break they'll switch. Those sessions are 2 hours 15 minutes long I believe...plenty of time to get a LOT of runs in. Don't wear your stuff out early, while I like the speed stop, no sense killing your car and tires there if that is your first event of the weekend. You are well versed at track events so you know the stuff about keeping hydrated, keeping cool, and keeping safe, all of that applies here as well. Mostly, just have fun hanging with your car friends...you'll make many new ones at this event, they are all good people.
Regarding the wreck...it was a bad deal. Not much has been said publicly about it yet and I don't really want to be the first one sharing the details. I know this, I came around a corner and saw dust...then 10' tall flames...and a friend of mine climbing out and running from his burning car. It was a very sobering moment for me and I'm sure many others there.
Here's what I saw...
I'm sure more will come out about it eventually once the dust settles so to speak.
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Lance
1985 Monte Carlo SS Street Car
man I hate to see things like that. The worst is sitting in the paddock and the track comes to an all stop, then you see your buddies car coming back all wadded up and he's no where to be found. I put a lot of safety stuff in my car because I want to come back. I just put a full fire system in it this winter, with one nozzle on the gas tank and two in the engine compartment.
As far as wearing out my car, I'm pretty good at doing that! Almost everything on my car I can get at the local parts store to keep me running. Almost...
looks like it was a fun weekend, can't wait to go to Charlotte!
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No Shop, No Money, No Time.... No problem!
I should talk about Advance Auto Parts a bit...I forgot all about this.
They are a new sponsor to the Optima Series...and frankly they do something so cool it needs to be talked about. They set up a little unassuming 10x10 pop up tent on site and have a couple people manning the tent. They give away some doo-dads thru raffle drawings and stuff out of the tent...but mainly...they help source needed parts so the participants can fix their junk and get it back out on the track.
Need some brake shoes? Tell the guys in the tent, they get on the horn find what you need and get it delivered to the track pronto like!! Need power steering fluid...they get it for you... At NCM they even sent an employee to a competitor's store to buy a part for a participant that they didn't have in stock at any of their locations... How freaking cool is that?!?!
I heard from several people over the weekend about how Advance saved their behinds and got them back out on the track ASAP. Had I had my wheel bearing failure earlier in the day, I'm certain I would have used them for the parts and got my junk back out on the track as well.
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Lance
1985 Monte Carlo SS Street Car
that's really cool that they do that right on the track. I don't know how many times I've had to send "runner" into town to pick up something from the local parts store. In fact last time it was a wheel bearing.
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No Shop, No Money, No Time.... No problem!